Reviews by tyanow:

I had heard of Old Viscosity but never tried it. I was very surprised with the beer list read "Old Viscosity Porter" and not strong ale. If Port makes another beer with that name than please disregard this review - but I'm pretty sure that this is the stuff.

It looks like a porter. Almost totally opaque with some burgandy hues on the edges. Very small head.

The smell was almost oily (I hope that wasn't my reaction due to the name).

It tasted good, but it was not porter on my tongue. And not nearly as pleasing as the Rasputin was. Had a little licorice and a very roasty cereal start that ended in more of a toasty/burnt flavor.

It's a strong and heavy beer and that really affects mouthfeel and drinkability. Drinkable yes, eager for another - not so much.

More User Reviews:

I can't believe this is the first time I have had this beer.Pours a jet black except for just a hint of chocolate brown when held to the light,a large fluffy deep beige head atop.Smells like sweet alcohol and dark fruit over top of chocolate and roast.The roast plays a much bigger role on the palate,roasted and charred with caramel and alcohol dipped dark fruit on the palte,I have to say the alcohol lingers.This is an old school favorite and Iam glad to finally try it,it kicks ass.

"Not your dad's wimpy 30 weight!" shouts the label, with an illustration of a man lying underneath a vintage truck, pulling pints of motor oil from the engine. Yikes!

As suggested on the label, this is one hell of an opaque beer--like, scary opaque. "Motor-oil black" would be a good description; topped with a rich, coffee-colored lacing. Surprisingly soft in the aroma, but full of chocolate, cake, Ovaltine, roasted grains, figs and ripe, dark, forest fruits. Whoa, this is one intensely rich and robust beer--nearly heart-stopping. Mouthfeel is huge and viscous at first, not as full-bodied as we expected. The carbonation is uplifting, tingly, and creates some fluffiness on the palate. Malt flavors are all over the place: dense chocolate cake, blackstrap molasses, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, black treacle syrup, slightly acrid coffee and a nice dollop of rounding toffee. Hints of spicy hops dance around a barely noticeable alcohol presence--though it does get a bit solvent-like after a while. Figs; some vanilla; date-like sugars. A cutting, raisiny edge highlights the beer's acrid notes and pulls through as the beer warms. Finish is very dry, powdery, and leaves you thirsting for another sip, with a big, residual, roasted astringency.

And yes, this is a sipping beer. The 10 percent is well hidden in the dark chaos, so watch your ass with this one. We have no idea what this beer is--motor oil? A Russian Imperial Stout? They call it a Strong Ale, so it's best just to agree and enjoy. Pairing could be futile. Just drop it into a snifter and share with friends.

Appearance: Viscous indeed - but not that viscous. Cola black with ruby highlights and a fleeting, malted milk-colored head.

Smell: Weird, gluey, paint-like resin; vanilla, honey, brown sugar, and pancakes. This does not smell how it looks, which is to say that it doesn't smell very strong or good. Something about it reminds me of cinnamon rolls.

Taste: Hmm... rather vacuous and boring. Not much going on here except cheap bourbon, cola, dark chocolate, rum-soaked raisins, and sugary bock-like malts. Not bad, I guess, but not good.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, thick, creamy, and not too syrupy.

Drinkability: I don't really get this beer. It's imbalanced - too sweet, and the barrel aging comes through in a bizarrely woody way. It isn't bad - at the very least, it's interesting - but it isn't a beer I'd be too excited to try again.

Appearance  This is a deadly brown in color with some light ruby hues around the edges. The booze killed the head, but theres still lacing on the glass because the thick malty liquid coats it like grease in a pot.

Smell  This is fine malt in its purest form. Its made up of some light bakers chocolate, very light coffee bean, a hint of vanilla, and raw burnt grain. The sugars are mostly raw brown but they are mild. The alcohol is elegant and light, like the kind you get from a Godiva liqueur.

Taste  The blackened grain comes out wonderfully at the taste. It leads the way for the other characteristics from the nose. The booze is a little stiffer but not harsh; again like a fine chocolate liquer. The chocolate itself turns super-dark.

Mouthfeel  This is bigger than medium-bodied but not full and the alcohol is slightly stinging but not harsh. The beauty here is its namesake  the viscosity. It is so slick and greasy in the cheeks you get the feeling of what an engine experiences after a can of Slick 50.

Drinkability  Are you kidding me? This is one of the best ASAs on the market and certainly one of the most drinkable big beers that Ive ever had.

Been holding on to this one for several months now. Received in a trade I know, but unfortunetly it was too long ago for me to remember. 350th beer review, figured I'd break out a supposedly great beer.

Pours dark brown, but sits in the glass nearly opaque. Dark brown hues show through at the edges. Small light brown head formed on the pour but reduced to a skim layer. Head formation, retention and lacing are weak.

Aroma is nice. Chocolate and coffee, dark roasted malts. Wiffs of smoke. Very stout like to me. Straightforward aroma really.

Nice chocolaty flavor, coffee and roasted notes all over the place again. Has some caramel and dark fruit undertones and some basic hopping of pine and grass. Well hidden alcohol, there are some faint flares of it, but its not a detractor.

Flavor coats the mouthwell and leaves behind a nice roasted flavor. Full bodied and slick on the tongue. A good bit of carbonation makes this really refreshing and a bit crisp.

Great drinkability. Dark roasted flavors but refreshing crispness. Hidden alcohol and smooth overall flavor make this one go down easy. Good stuff. Kind of breaks style guidelines, not a typical strong ale...closer to a double stout. Similar to Dark Horse's Black Bier.

I've got to get more of Port Brewing's beers; the ones I've tried have been excellent. This beer was a very dark brown with red highlights. A medium tan head with good lacing. Coffee, chocolate, dark fruit aroma. Ditto on the taste, with some bread also. The alcohol is noticeable, but not intrusive. Very comfortable beer.

22 oz bottle. Pours a dark brown with a creamy brown head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet baking chocolate, some coffee and grains, a touch of molasses and fruits.

The flavor is sweet fudgy chocolate followed by some roasted nuts, coffee and some dark fruits. There is some alcohol present, but it's well done and not offensive. The finish has a good amount of bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, this is very complex and could easily be a mixed together mess, but it is very well put together and all the different flavors just accentuate each other. It's sublime and a very decadent and tasty treat.

Ok...I'm expecting good things here...let's just put it out there right now.
Spent motor oil in color...less than 1/4 finger of tan head. Lacing thin and lasting only a handful of seconds.
Beautifully inticing in the nose...vanilla, oak, chocolate and more (but I'll save some for the flavor).
Rum soaked raisins up front...molasses, roasted almond, more dark chocolate and some fruity hops rounded up the taste.
Alcohol is there...no hiding the fact, but goes down super smooth with each sip and this is definitely a sipper.
Thick mouthfeel...bitterness takes away any sweet, cloyingness that may try to show. Quite carbonated, but wouldn't know it from the pour.
Gonna have to equal out the drinkability...no doubt I can consume this bomber, but don't think I'm reaching for anything else after...forget it.
Great offering from my new best friends in MA....welcome!

A: Black, thick, and viscous like oil with a soft pillow of light brown head, which beckons my sleepy head and refuses to dissipate.

S: Bouzy with sweet cocoa, vanilla, and espresso bitterness. There are also some notes of raisins and moist soil.

T: There is a large vein of bouziness with branches of vanilla and espresso bitterness. The edges are burnt wood and there is an added component of raisiny sweetness. The vanilla smoothness brings to mind marshmallows, paired with leaves, earth and the smell of soiled hands after a hard days work.

M: Smooth as silk yet still manages to pack a wallop. Perfect carbonation and full bodied.

O: Round and strongly built, this sturdy stout is smooth and complex but not overpowering. Port shoots for the moon and barely misses landing in the stars. This stout, although not amongst the greats, still deserves respect.

Pours out black with a tan head that doesn't last and leaves no lacing. Smell is excellent, chocolate-y, dark fruits, vanilla and oak. Unfortunately, the taste has a strong alcohol taste and burn to it. You can sense the malty flavors beneath, but they're being overpowered at the moment. Thick mouthfeel, carbonation was borderline flat. Too much alcohol for now. I think this would be amazing with age on it.